Electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device includes a display device foldable with respect to a folding axis extending in a second direction, and a hinge mechanism including accommodation grooves accommodating the display device. The hinge mechanism includes housings defining the accommodation grooves and disposed in a first direction intersecting the second direction, a first hinge disposed between the housings and defining a first rotating axis extending in the second direction, a second hinge disposed between the housings and defining a second rotating axis extending in the second direction, main plates disposed inside the accommodation grooves, coupled to the first hinge, and rotatable about the first rotating axis, and moving plates disposed on the main plates inside the accommodation grooves, coupled to the second hinge, and rotatable about the second rotating axis. Among the first rotating axis and the second rotating axis, the first rotating axis is disposed closer to the display device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display device configured to be folded or unfolded with respect to a folding axis extending in a second direction; and   a hinge mechanism in which a plurality of accommodation grooves configured to accommodate the display device are defined,   wherein the hinge mechanism includes:   a plurality of housings defining the accommodation grooves and disposed in a first direction intersecting the second direction;   a first hinge disposed between the housings and defining a first rotating axis extending in the second direction;   a second hinge disposed between the housings and defining a second rotating axis extending in the second direction;   a plurality of main plates disposed inside the accommodation grooves, coupled to the first hinge, and configured to rotate about the first rotating axis; and   a plurality of moving plates disposed on the main plates inside the accommodation grooves, coupled to the second hinge, and configured to rotate about the second rotating axis, and   wherein among the first rotating axis and the second rotating axis, the first rotating axis is disposed at a greater height than the second rotating axis.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between one side of each of the main plates opposite to each other in the first direction and one side of each of the moving plates opposite to each other in the first direction in a folded state is greater than a distance between the one side of each of the main plates and the one side of each of the moving plates in an unfolded state, and
 wherein the one side of each of the main plates is a side spaced apart from the first hinge, and the one side of each of the moving plates is a side spaced apart from the second hinge.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein, in the folded state, a height of edges of the main plates is greater than a height of edges of the moving plates. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the housings include:
 a plurality of bottom parts;   a plurality of first sidewall portions disposed on both sides of the bottom parts opposite to each other in the second direction and extending in the first direction; and   a plurality of second sidewall portions disposed on one side of each of the bottom parts opposite to each other in the first direction and extending in the second direction, the one side being space apart from the first hinge,   wherein the main plates are fixedly coupled to the bottom parts, and   wherein the moving plates are disposed in sliding grooves defined on inner surfaces facing each other of the first sidewall portions and extending in the first direction, and slide in the first direction.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein a distance between the one side of each of the main plates and the second sidewall portions in the folded state is about equal to a distance between the one side of each of the main plates and the second sidewall portions in the unfolded state, and
 wherein a distance between the one side of each of the moving plates and the second sidewall portions in the folded state is greater than a distance between the one side of each of the moving plates and the second sidewall portions in the unfolded state.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the display device further includes:
 a display panel;   a window disposed on the display panel; and   a support plate disposed under the display panel, and   wherein both sides of the window opposite to each other in the first direction are disposed outside an edge of the display panel and an edge of the support plate.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein upper surfaces of the second sidewall portions include:
 a plurality of first surfaces; and   a plurality of second surfaces disposed on the first surfaces, and   wherein both sides of the window opposite to each other in the first direction are disposed on the first surfaces, and   wherein the support plate is disposed on upper surfaces of the moving plates.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the moving plates include:
 a plurality of first planarization parts having a plane defined by the second direction and the first direction; and   a plurality of first connection parts disposed adjacent to sides of the first planarization parts opposite to each other in the first direction, and   wherein the first connection parts are disposed in first grooves defined in the second hinge, and   wherein the first grooves have a curved shape, and   wherein the first grooves are disposed in the second direction and symmetrical to each other in the second direction.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge includes:
 a body part; and   a plurality of rotating parts symmetrical to each other in the first direction on the body part and configured to rotate about the first rotating axis, and   wherein the rotating parts are coupled to upper surfaces of the main plates.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the main plates include:
 a plurality of planarization parts having a plane defined by the second direction and the first direction; and   a plurality of connection parts disposed adjacent to sides of the planarization parts opposite to each other in the first direction, and   wherein the connection parts are disposed in second grooves defined in the first hinge, and   wherein the second grooves have a curved shape, and   wherein the second grooves are disposed in the second direction and symmetrical to each other in the second direction.   
     
     
         11 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display device including a folding area configured to be folded or unfolded with respect to a folding axis extending in a second direction, and a plurality of non-folding areas disposed on both sides of the folding area opposite to each other in a first direction intersecting the second direction; and   a hinge mechanism disposed below the display device,   wherein the hinge mechanism includes:   a first hinge overlapping the folding area and defining a first rotating axis extending in the second direction;   a second hinge overlapping the folding area and defining a second rotating axis extending in the second direction below the first rotating axis;   a plurality of housings defining a plurality of accommodation grooves configured to accommodate the display device and connected to the first hinge such that the housings rotate about the first rotating axis; and   a plurality of moving plates disposed between the display device and the housings and connected to the second hinge such that the moving plates rotate about the second rotating axis.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the housings include:
 a plurality of bottom parts;   a plurality of first sidewall portions disposed on both sides of the bottom parts opposite to each other in the second direction and extending in the first direction; and   a plurality of second sidewall portions disposed on one side of each of the bottom parts opposite to each other in the first direction and extending in the second direction, the one side being spaced apart from the first hinge, and   wherein both sides of the moving plates opposite to each other in the second direction are disposed in sliding grooves defined on inner surfaces facing each other of the first sidewall portions and extending in the first direction, and slide in the first direction.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein a distance between one side of each of the moving plates opposite to each other in the first direction and the second sidewall portions in a folded state is greater than a distance between the one side of each of the moving plates and the second sidewall portions in an unfolded state, and
 wherein the one side of each of the moving plates opposite to each other in the first direction is a side spaced apart from the second hinge.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of main plates fixed to interiors of the accommodation grooves and coupled to the first hinge,   wherein, when the main plates rotate about the first rotating axis, the housings rotate about the first rotating axis.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein in a folded state, a distance between one side of each of the moving plates opposite to each other in the first direction and the second sidewall portions is greater than a distance between one side of each of the main plates opposite to each other in the first direction and the second sidewall portions, and
 wherein the one side of each of the moving plates opposite to each other in the first direction is a side spaced apart from the second hinge, and the one side of each of the main plates opposite to each other in the first direction is a side spaced apart from the first hinge.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the main plates include:
 a plurality of planarization parts having a plane defined by the second direction and the first direction; and   a plurality of connection parts disposed adjacent to sides of the planarization parts opposite to each other in the first direction, and   wherein the connection parts are disposed in grooves defined in the first hinge, the grooves have a curved shape, and the grooves are disposed in the second direction and are symmetrical to each other in the second direction.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of claim  20 , wherein the moving plates include:
 a plurality of planarization parts having a plane defined by the second direction and the first direction; and   a plurality of connection parts disposed adjacent to sides of the planarization parts opposite to each other in the first direction, and   wherein the connection parts are disposed in grooves defined in the second hinge, the grooves have a curved shape, and the grooves are disposed in the second direction and are symmetrical to each other in the second direction.   
     
     
         18 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display device configured to be folded or unfolded with respect to a folding axis extending in a second direction;   a power supply configured to provide power to the display device; and   a hinge mechanism in which a plurality of accommodation grooves configured to accommodate the display device are defined,   wherein the hinge mechanism includes:   a plurality of housings defining the accommodation grooves and disposed in a first direction intersecting the second direction;   a first hinge disposed between the housings and defining a first rotating axis extending in the second direction;   a second hinge disposed between the housings and defining a second rotating axis extending in the second direction;   a plurality of main plates disposed inside the accommodation grooves, coupled to the first hinge, and configured to rotate about the first rotating axis; and   a plurality of moving plates disposed on the main plates inside the accommodation grooves, coupled to the second hinge, and configured to rotate about the second rotating axis, and   wherein among the first rotating axis and the second rotating axis, the first rotating axis is disposed at a greater height than the second rotating axis.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein a distance between one side of each of the main plates opposite to each other in the first direction and one side of each of the moving plates opposite to each other in the first direction in a folded state is greater than a distance between the one side of each of the main plates and the one side of each of the moving plates in an unfolded state, and
 wherein the one side of each of the main plates is a side spaced apart from the first hinge, and the one side of each of the moving plates is a side spaced apart from the second hinge.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein, in the folded state, a height of edges of the main plates is greater than a height of edges of the moving plates.